City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments Fan-fic)

Chapter 9: Fighting Back

"No," Jace tried to say. His voice choked off, breathy and strained. "NO!" He cried out, louder this time, his heart thundering against his ribcage erratically.

Clary's eyes were round and green, her pale face seized with pain. "Jace, please... Help... me..." Her voice was choked with tears her arms were laced with thin ribbons of crimson blood, but her face was unharmed, shining in the dimness. Jace's heart ached with a pain so piercing he was sure it would shatter.

"Clary! Clary, don't worry, I'll help-"

Sebastian cut him off with a cruel laugh, leaning in closer to the bars seperating them."You can't help her, you stupid boy. She's all alone now, all alone." He paused for several moments, the silence in the prison building. His next words were a soft whisper, though they still sent shivers down his spine. "But don't worry, you'll see each other again... In Hell."

His smile was as sharp as a vampire's, and much more sinister. His fingers lifted his dark cloak away for a moment, his hand caressing a sharp dagger, darker than night.

He's going to kill her. He's going to kill Clary. His brain seemed incapable of any other thought. Jace launched himself towards Sebastian, forgetting about the manacles, forgetting about everyone but her. "Clary!" Jace's ears filled with a strange buzzing, drowning out everything else. His vision was spotted with darkness, his heart pounding so fast it hurt to breathe. He was aware of Simon shouting something, but he didn't care what. His eyes fixed on Clary's terrified gaze, willing the bars between them to melt away.

"Clary, listen to me, it's going to be okay," Jace shouted as he stretched out a hand as far as he could. Clary stepped forward painfully, tears rolling down her cheeks, but she was jerked away quickly by Sebastian. He leaned in close to her, stroking her face with tender. She stood petrified, her eyes squeezed shut, and looked away. Tears spilled beneath her eyelids, dropping soundlessly onto the dirty floor. Sebastian forced her head up, brushing his lips against hers.

Jace knew Sebastian did it on purpose, to get to him, to make him insane. But knowing that didn't stop the anger from pounding in his ears, washing away any sense left in him. He screamed in frustration, shaking his manacles until their rattling filled the dungeon over the noise in her ears.

Sebastian let go of her face, smiling. Clary stumbled backwards, but was pushed forwards again by the shadowy vampires. "You didn't like that, did you, Jace?" Sebastian asked with glee. "How about this?" He asked, his voice velvety soft. He slapped her cheek, the sound piercing Jace's ears. Her head whipped to the side, flinging her air around her in a red halo,strands sticking to her tears. Clary gasped, sinking to her knees and clutching at her face. Between her fingers, a red mark burned her cheek.

Jace heard himself shout as if from a distance, his voice echoing inside his head. The fact that he had double vision probably should have scared him, but he didn't care at that moment.

"Take her away," he heard Sebastian say as if he were underwater, far, far away from the rest of the world. The two burly vampires jerked Clary to her feet, dragging her out of his view.

"NO! Clary! CLARY!"

Clary looked backwards as she was dragged away, her face streaked with tears. I love you, she mouthed. Then, her pale face was out of sight, and all that was left standing there was Sebastian, grinning like a maniac.

Jace sat frozen. He was panting hard, his breaths sharp and painful. He wasn't aware of the pain before, but now it hit him, fast and hard. He gritted his teeth to keep from screaming as white hot fire lanced across his entire body, shaking his bones. He could feel himself drifting away from consciousness.